Valley Springs, CA septic systems firm? Periodic Septic Tank Maintenance is also essential to keep your system running. This is especially critical on advanced systems, with pumps, float, control panels & filters. We perform a very thorough maintenance and inspection on your system. During routine maintenance we open the entire system. All components,( i.e.- pumps, floats, filters splice boxes, P/D laterals, valve boxes and more) are checked, cleaned and flushed. Flushing of the P/D laterals is a very important part of the maintenance. Lateral pipes can get full of sludge / solids and not allow the effluent into the drain field trenches. In addition, flushing can remove early root mats growing into the lines through the trench.
Never drain your pool or hot tub water into your septic tank system. Chlorine from your pool or hot tub can break down the important solid-busting bacteria in your system, just like household chemicals can. Additionally, adding a large influx of water into your septic tank can cause your drain field to flood. Perform an inspection of your septic tank on a regular basis. The frequency of a septic tank inspection depends on the manufacturer – it can range from three months to three years. Some septic tanks can be inspected by the consumer while others need to be inspected by a technician. In any case, be sure to have your septic tank system evaluated on a frequent basis to catch any minor repairs before they become costly ones.
The most common cause of a failed system is overloading it. This can be caused by the consecutive use of high-volume activities such as laundry, showering, and running the dishwasher. Space out their usage as well as follow water conservation efforts year round. This is particularly important during heavy rain, which can quickly overwhelm a drainfield on its own. Also common are blockages, which can cause pipes to be clogged and the drainfield to overflow. To prevent this, avoid flushing anything besides the three Ps (pee, poop, and toilet paper). “Flushable” wipes and FOG (fats, oils, grease) clog pipes so should be thrown in the trash. Avoid the use of a garbage disposal which can improperly break down debris.
A Dosing System introduces the effluent waste water from the septic tank to the drain field in intermittent intervals (doses) throughout the day. This allows the soil to absorb the “dosed” water in the drain field before more water is introduced. These types of systems are used in soils with poor absorption rates or shallow soils. There are two common types of dosing systems: The Siphon Dose and the Low Pressure Dose. A siphon dose system (not pictured) does not use an electrical discharge pump. It uses a siphon bell ( an inverted bell that is open on the bottom and traps air) that cycles as the water level rises and cause the effluent to dose into the drain field by a siphon action (Click on the link to the left to see how it actually works). A low pressure dosing system uses a pump in a pump chamber (as shown in picture on the left). The pump turns on intermittently through electronic controls and sends the effluent to the drain field in intervals throughout the day. Find more information at more info.
Water is then returned to the soil in the drain field. The drain field is made up of a network of perforated pipes in gravel trenches buried beneath the soil. The drain field is designed to help the wastewater flowing through the septic tank dissipate into the surrounding environment. Most of the water drains down through the topsoil and is eventually filtered into the groundwater. With regular maintenance, a septic system will last between 20-30 years. However if the system is not properly installed and maintained, a system can fail within a few years. Once a system fails, it can be difficult to repair and a complete replacement is often needed. With a tank replacement costing between $3,000 and $7,000, it’s important to keep your system in the best possible condition. Fortunately, it’s not hard to take care of a septic system, if you follow a few simple tips.
Kevin Gause is the owner of Foothill Sanitary Septic and Operation Manager for Foothill Portable Toilets which is owned by Leslie Gause. Kevin has over 20 years experience in solid and liquid waste transporting and 17 years experience in handling all aspects of septic, grease and portable toilet services. Kevin’s commitment is to provide all services with the utmost integrity and honesty. By providing quality workmanship and performing the job the way it should be done, customer satisfaction is achieved. Our first-time customers continually become our long term customers time and time again, choosing us for all their septic and portable toilet needs. This commitment is prevalent throughout the company.
Anyone can draw up their own septic system plan, but legal liability then lies exclusively with your regulatory officials and they often defer to a licensed and insured local engineer. This releases the local government from future legal liability for your extreme septic system’s failure. What is code in my area? is a uniquely local question and often changes yearly and varies from county to county in some states, so you need to check and see what is required on your property. Please note that we are not an engineering firm and we do not supply stamped, engineered plans, but we do consult for no charge with purchase of any complete septic system. See extra details at Foothill Sanitary.